Since the pool closure, the club has had pleasant social gatherings at the pub Riwwelmaddes where members enjoyed lively conversations, laughter, and good food and drinks. We also ventured out to the enchanting Christmas Market in Marktplatz, soaking in the festive atmosphere.
AGM
The club Annual General Assembly was held on 12 December. Members enjoyed a delicious spread of Portuguese food, including the typical codfish croquets, prepared by Casa Algarve. The assembly was a great opportunity to catch up with fellow members, discuss club activities, and plan for the future. A new committee was elected, and the club is looking forward to a successful year under their leadership.
2023 was a banner year for the diving club, with many divers qualifying with different levels, and several exciting diving trips to Mexico, the Red Sea, and Lanzarote. The club’s commitment to safety and education was paramount, ensuring that all divers had the skills and knowledge to explore the wonders of the underwater world.
The dive club is buzzing with excitement as they embark on a new year under the leadership of the new Diving Officer, Derick. The club is planning a series of exciting diving activities and courses for 2024. A good number of divers have already enrolled in the Sports Diver and Ocean Diver courses, eager to enhance their skills and dive deeper into the underwater world.
Training
To further expand the club’s underwater expertise, Derick is seeking enthusiastic divers to enrol or complete the Dive Leader and Advanced Diver courses. These courses offer a comprehensive training program that equips individuals with the skills and knowledge to guide and assist fellow divers, conduct advanced dive techniques, and explore deeper dive environments. Derick encourages experienced divers to step up and take on these challenging yet rewarding roles, further enhancing the club’s capacity and knowledge base.
With unwavering dedication and passion, the training officer Miche is at the helm of the diving courses Ocean Diver and Sports Diver. His commitment to safety, education, and fostering a positive learning environment is evident in the success of these courses. There was a significant demand for these courses. The club experienced a surge in enrolment, with many divers eager to enhance their diving skills and explore the underwater world further.
Diving Trips
Derick is seeking passionate and experienced divers to step up and take on the role of diving captains. These individuals will play a crucial role in organizing and leading exciting diving trips, including the main summer trip and weekend excursions. Advanced Diver candidates and Dive Leader candidates are particularly encouraged to apply. Derick expects to have a comprehensive plan for 2024 finalized and ready for distribution by end of January.
Philippines & Red Sea
That’s fantastic news! The diving club is already off to a great start with two exciting diving trips planned for 2024. The diving trip to the Philippines (February 2024), organized by Frank, promises an underwater adventure filled with vibrant coral reefs, diverse marine life, and stunning landscapes. The live aboard to the Red Sea (September 2024), organized by the Heidetaucher club in Walsrode, will offer an immersive experience exploring the historical shipwrecks of the Red Sea.
Mallorca & Azores
Two additional diving trips have been proposed for 2024.
One is a summer diving trip to Mallorca (July 2024), organised by Daniel Lee, which is suitable for all diving levels, offering a variety of dive sites and underwater experiences to suit everyone’s interests.
The other trip is to Santa Maria (September 2024) in the Azores, which is geared towards experienced Sports Divers and above, providing challenging dives in a unique and ecologically rich environment. The club is currently working on finalizing the details for these trips and will announce more information in the coming months. With these exciting options, the diving club is ensuring that its members have ample opportunities to explore the underwater world in 2024.
Scapa Flow (2025)
To further expand the club’s diving adventures and provide its members with the opportunity to explore a historical and underwater gem, the club is proposing a diving trip to Scapa Flow in 2025. Scapa Flow, located in the Orkney Islands of Scotland, is renowned for its extensive collection of shipwrecks, including the German High Seas Fleet that was scuttled there during World War I. The club is seeking passionate and experienced divers to step up as organizers for this exciting diving trip.
Derick is already planning for some exciting weekend diving trips to keep the club’s members engaged and exploring the underwater world throughout the year. The deep pools Monta Mare and Dive4Life in Germany offer a unique and challenging diving experience, providing divers with the opportunity to practice their skills in a controlled and safe environment. The Gasometer in Duisburg, a former gas storage facility converted into an event space, offers a unique diving experience with its dramatic architecture and immersive atmosphere. The decompression chamber in Bodensee, Germany, is another unique diving venue that allows divers to experience a wide range of depth and pressure profiles. In addition to these domestic diving destinations, eventually further weekend trips to L’Estartit in Spain, Mediterranean coast in Italy, or Kiel in Germany are being considered.
images: @RoderixTheDiver
